Gizmodo: hp mediasmart

HP MediaSmart TVs and Connect Receiver Will Tune In YouTube

Wilson Rothman — Tue, 06 May 2008 00:01:00 EDT

At some date in the not too far future, HP's MediaSmart TVs and its soon-to-be- released MediaSmart Connect receiver will get the ability to play YouTube videos stretched to full-screen HD. We've shown you the MediaSmart Connect in the past under its more formal name x280n. The Connect and the sl4278n and sl4778n MediaSmart LCD TVs will have searchable, browsable client software for accessing all YouTube videos already converted into the Apple-friendly H.264 codec. Warning: Not all YouTube videos should be viewed full-screen on HDTVs, but you're a grown-up (or something), so you'll just have to sort it out for yourself. Press release down below.

HP to Premiere YouTube Service on Its Connected Entertainment Products
PALO ALTO, Calif., May 6, 2008 - HP today announced it is making the video content of YouTube available for people to enjoy through its HP MediaSmart connected entertainment products, including the soon-to-be-released MediaSmart Connect digital media receiver and the high-definition MediaSmart TV.

HP worked with YouTube to make it possible for people to watch and share full-screen videos on their HDTVs and to create multiple playlists from anywhere they watch TV: Viewers simply log into their YouTube accounts with an easy-to-use remote control and start watching videos on their HP MediaSmart products.

"With the addition of YouTube to the HP MediaSmart platform, consumers will have even more ways to enjoy the latest entertainment on the Internet," said Carlos Montalvo, vice president of marketing and services, Connected Entertainment Business, HP. "Bringing YouTube to HP MediaSmart products will let users browse and select a series of videos, then relax and enjoy the show on their big screens."

The MediaSmart platform is the touchstone of HP's connected entertainment products. All MediaSmart products aggregate digital media from multiple networked home PCs into one easy-to-view menu for HDTV playback using a remote control.

"People want to participate in the YouTube community in ways that fit their individual lifestyles," said Jim Patterson, group product manager, YouTube. "To that end, we are excited to support HP in bringing YouTube into the living room through the MediaSmart platform."

Using HP MediaSmart products, consumers already can access dozens of services from the Internet. For example, they can rent or purchase thousands of movies from CinemaNow, share and purchase photos from Snapfish, and listen to Internet radio from Live365.

HP MediaSmart also makes it easy for family and friends to enjoy photos, videos and music together in front of a big-screen TV by supporting a wide range of file formats. These include:

* Photo: JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF and PNG
* Video: MPEG, XVID, DVR-MS, WMV and AVI
* Audio: MP3, WMA, WMA Pro and AAC (unprotected)

First Glimpse of Sexy Windows Home Server From Velocity Micro

Wilson Rothman — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 13:19:39 EDT

Now that the Windows Home Server platform has been released to manufacturing, a lot of cool concepts are becoming sweet realities. We just scored some juicy details on Velocity Micro's design, destined to ship in the coming months, with external expansion upgrades in early 2008.

Here's what we can relate to you now:

• It has an Intel Conroe-derived processor with DDR2 memory. This will accommodate any future Home Server applications that may be more demanding in horse power, etc.
• It features a high performance Intel chipset for maximum I/O performance including PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet, Sata 300, NCQ, etc.

• It is extremely price competitive and will be available for Windows Home Server launch.

• Can be configured up to several terabytes.

• Most likely available in silver and/or black. Color schemes are not finalized.

• It's designed for vertical or horizontal placement.

• It's an enterprise-class design in regards to thermals and up-time. But it's very quiet!

• It features eSATA for an external expansion box that will match the design and will be available by Q1 '08.

Thanks Chris!

HP's HDTV 2.0 Will Let You Buy Movies Directly from Your TV

Louis Ramirez — Fri, 25 May 2007 11:40:31 EDT

HP is building on its MediaSmart TVs with HDTV 2.0, a new concept that'll let lazy couch potatoes buy movies straight from their HP TVs. The TVs would connect to the Internet via a wired or wireless connection and movies would be stored directly on the TV (which would have built-in storage). There aren't any details on the movie "store" or how long you'd be able to keep the movies, but HP says we could see these new TVs by the fall. – Louis Ramirez

HP Invents HDTV 2.0 [Zatz Not Funny]

HP Turning Off the Lights on its DLPs?

Louis Ramirez — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 10:08:59 EST

It was a short lived marriage, but it appears HP is letting go of its DLP line of TVs. The company's road map for 2007 is rear projection-free and instead focuses on thinner LCD and plasma models. Even in the gadget world, fat ain't cool. So what can we expect from HP in 07? Lots of beautifully thin plasmas and LCDs. The company has boosted its LCD line into the 42- and 47-inch range while bringing 1080p goodness to the mix. It's wireless MediaSmart models are also getting a resolution bump, from 720p to 1080p. I still think HDTVs with wireless built in are gimmicky, but it's nice to see HP embrace 1080p across their line up, even if it means sacrificing a few fatties for it. – Louis Ramirez

Is HP Ditcing DLP TVs? [Crave]